Christkindlmarkt brings holiday cheer to Bethlehem for 22nd year

You step into the giant white tent and are hit with the aroma of apple strudel and roasted almonds. You hear the sweet sound of Christmas carols and the excited chatter of guests. You look all around and see tables and booths full of handcrafted treasures — Christmas ornaments, jewelry, scarves and paintings, to name just a few — as far as the eye can see.

Welcome to Christkindlmarkt. The event, modeled after a traditional German open air Christmas market, opens in Bethlehem Nov. 20 for the 22nd year.

Located on ArtsQuest's SteelStacks campus, Christkindlmarkt runs for six weeks. During that time, 143 artisans will sell their creations and more than 60,000 people will visit, says Mark Demko, director of public relations for ArtsQuest.

The market is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit, and to find one-of-a-kind, handcrafted gifts for family and friends, says Demko.

"We have so many artisans who have been coming to Christkindlmarkt for many years, and they all add to the magic and charm of the event," he says. "People love to stroll the aisles and visit their favorites, as well as discover new favorites from among the artisans who are attending the event for the first time."

But the market has lots more than vendors. Christkindlmarkt is also an entertainment experience, with ice carving and glass blowing demonstrations, live music, German and Austrian food and Santa Claus. Here's what you'll find.

VENDORS

Each weekend 100 artisans will bring their crafts to Christkindlmarkt. New vendors will cycle in each week, while some will appear every day. Many will demonstrate their crafts.

Demko says 25 percent of this year's vendors are new. The market features favorite local vendors as well as vendors who come from as far as Vermont, Virginia and North Carolina.

Returning local favorites include painter Cece Tucker of Easton, Katherine Fox-Haney of Nazareth, who crafts handmade Santas, and Country Hearts by Jo, which makes hand-painted tinware.

Traveling from out of state are returning vendor Incredible Edible Birdhouses from North Carolina and newcomer Hauserman Quilts from Virginia Beach.

Demko is predicting some sure-to-be favorites from the new vendors. One is Rich Traditions, which features Indianapolis artists Rich Ernsting and Rebecca Moore Higgins. Higgins works with acrylic and watercolor to create floral and nature scenes. Ernsting is a photographer who designs collages from photos of iconic places on college campuses — including local universities such as Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Kutztown University and Moravian College.

A big event this year is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the popular Kathe Wohlfarht, the family-owned German maker of holiday ornaments, nutcrackers and figurines in wood, glass and pewter.

Kathe Wohlfarht has been at Christkindlmarkt for 15 years, longer than it has appeared at any other market. Demko says as many as 2,000 Kathe Wolfarht ornaments will be on display. This year there will be special 50th anniversary pieces, but Demko says they will be in limited quantity.

Another special piece available this year will be the first Christkindlmarkt collectible made by Bethlehem artisan Rich Connolly. Connolly, who has been at Christkindlmarkt for several years, crafts antique-looking figurines by pouring a chalk mixture into 1930s chocolate molds. The collectible is a Santa in a sled being pulled by a reindeer. The limited edition of 150 will be signed and numbered.

ACTIVITIES

•Breakfast with St. Nick: Families can enjoy a home-cooked breakfast with Christkindlmarkt's authentic German St. Nicholas, who has been with the market every year. The morning includes arts and crafts and a family photo with St. Nick. The events are at 9 a.m. Saturday mornings — Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13. Tickets are $14.95, ages 11 and older; $11.95, ages 2-10, and $6.95, under 2. Tickets include free admission to Christkindlmarkt for the day.

•Visit with St. Nicholas: Visit the jolly old German St. Nick at a special area set up in the children's gift area of the crafts tent. Children can share holiday wishes and take photos with Santa, who will be on hand noon-5 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and noon-7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

•Glassblowing Tent: Learn from glassblowers from the ArtsQuest Glass Studio at the Banana Factory and craft your own Christmas ornament, a true Christkindlmarkt souvenir. The glassblowers will walk you through the entire process. New this year is the option to make an ornament in the shape of the Bethlehem star. Find the tent in the outdoor courtyard. Register online in advance for a Saturday session. Tickets are $45 and include admission to Christkindlmarkt for the day.

•Ice sculpting: Sit down and watch ice sculptors from Sculpted Ice Works of Lakeville use chainsaws and other heavy-duty tools to create masterpieces. Find benches surrounding the sculptors in the outdoor area right next to the brightly lit Christkindlmarkt tree.

FOOD

When you want to take a break from shopping, make your way to the Christkindlmarkt stage at the center of the tent. Grab a bite to eat and rest your legs at one of the plentiful tables in front of the stage, where local performers will sing Christmas carols and other music.

Christkindlmarkt features seven food vendors selling German and Austrian foods as well as festival favorites such as kettle corn and pizza.

Foodstuff will sell foods such as bierocks, meat-filled pocket pastries; weinerschnitzel, a type of hot dog; goulash, a meat and vegetable stew; and sauerbraten, a pot roast.

Another favorite is Heidi's Strudel, which features apple strudel and roasted almonds.

Other food vendors are Heaven on a Bun, which sells hamburgers and cheesesteaks, as well as different types of bratwurst; Hillbilly Kettle Corn; Island Expressions, which features coffee drinks and pastries; MMG Concessions, which has everything from pretzel dogs to Belgian waffles; and Nico's Pizza, which offers Italian classics.

Enjoy a cup of Gluhwein, a warm German spiced wine offered by Vynecrest Winery. Holiday-themed drinks are also available at ArtsQuest's Christkindlmarkt bar, including a Hot Whipped, hot chocolate and whipped cream vodka, and a Gingerbread Spice, hot chocolate and Southern Comfort Gingerbread Spice.

Some vendors offer food for take away. These include Bittersweet Herb Farm, which has an assortment of dips; Food Stuff, which sells breads, pies and cookies; and Ye Old Toffee, which offers English toffees.

MUSIC

Rounding out the Christkindlmarkt experience are the musical performances. Over the six-week run, 62 musicians will perform on the Christkindlmarkt stage,

Performances include solo acoustic music from artists such as Perry Costello and Jessi Lee Ross and sets from groups such as Silver Brass and the Old Towne Carolers. Favorites are folksinger Dave Fry, singer-songwriters Brosky and Meyer, Craig Thatcher and Nyke van Wyk, and the duo KATO. Also performing will be local middle school, high school and university choirs and bands. Find the schedule at http://www.christmascity.org/christkindlmarkt.

Demko says there also are festive shows in the Musikfest Café at the ArtsQuest Center to complement your visit to Christkindlmarkt. "Christmas with the Celts" on Dec. 3 features the music of "The Celts" and Irish dancing. Contemporary dance company DanceNow SteelStacks will present "Nut/Cracked," its wacky version of "The Nutcracker," on Dec. 11. On Dec. 12, Micky Dolenz of the Monkees will perform Christmas songs. The Rob Stoneback Big Band will present "Swinging the Holidays" Dec. 20. And on Dec. 26, ArtsQuest will throw a Jimmy Buffett-themed holiday party with Jimmy and the Parrots.

CHRISTKINDLMARKT

•What: 22nd annual market modeled after the traditional German open air Christmas market. Features 143 artisans, activities, musical performances and authentic German and Austrian food.

•When: Nov. 20 through Dec. 21. Runs Thursdays-Sundays each weekend, except Thanksgiving. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.